Drug Company Pushed Ineffective Pills - Tamiflu Useless

April 10, 2014

9 billion dollars. That's the amount it cost to stickpill Tamiflu in the USA in 2009, a drug pushed by its manufacturer Roche to help prevent the flu including H1N1. But it's now revealed it was accepted because of weak science. The research from the mamufacturer suggested it helped save lives. But now it's revealed Roche's studies were not strong, and a new review questions its effectiveness. These results are disturbing, as follows:

"There is no good evidence that the drug [Tamiflu] saves lives."

"There is no good evidence that it reduces hospitalizations, no good evidence that it reduces the risk of complications, no evidence that the drug will interrupt the spread of the virus, that's person to person transmission — some of the major reasons why the drug was stockpiled."

Would our Canadian and provincial governments have made the same decision to stockpile the drug knowing this? Likely not. In fact, some may argument Canadian taxpayers should be refunded 100's of millions of dollars.

I am a proponent of medicine, but this story shows how medicine still needs to be second guessed and good judgment is always needed. Tamiflu caused a lot of unnecessary vomitting in children and adults. Next time when you consider taking the flu shot, be your own advocate and think on the same wavelength. That vaccine is as equally ineffective and risky it seems.

Be fruitful. Be stronger. Live longer!

April 1, 2014

Here's a nice carrot in front of your nose. A new 12 year study which examined 65,000 people showed that we only need to be eating about double the fruits and vegetables previously recommended, or eating 7+ portions a day, to significantly reduce our risk of death.

What's further interesting is that the study revealed vegetables were seen to confer a much better advantage than fruits, reducing the risk of dying by 4 times that of fruit.

Strangely the researchers also discussed how canned and frozen fruit appeared to increase the risk of dying by 17%, and how juice was thought to convey no effect on longevity. While I find these assertions difficult to believe, overall the study does educate one on the relevance of why we should be eating healthier. Its good to be alive!

Aspartame "is safe"

Dec 10, 2013

The European Union (European Food Safety Authority, aka EFSA) announced this week "it left no stone unturned" and completed its most thorough "risk assessment on aspartame" concluding it is safe for human health.

This opinion represents one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken. It's a step in strengthening consumer confidence and another good argument against the internet conspiracy theories that it isn't.

The research said that following a thorough review of evidence provided both by animal and human studies, experts have ruled out a potential risk of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer, and the EFSA's experts also concluded that aspartame does not harm the brain, the nervous system or affect behavior or cognitive function in children or adults.

With respect to pregnancy, the Panel noted that there was no risk to the developing fetus from exposure to phenylalanine derived from aspartame at the current ADI (with the exception of women suffering from PKU).

The current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is 40mg/kg/day; however, in patients suffering from the medical condition phenylketonuria (PKU), the ADI is not applicable. Threfore, for a normal sized adult, the acceptable level equates to approximately 2800mg per day. Therefore, will a little bit of sweetner give anyone any problems? Not unless you are allergic to it. Its more probable we should be concerned about exposure to many other things we eat and/or environmental hazards. Consumption of Aspartame needs to be exceptionally high and regular over a person's lifetime, in order to exceed the ADI, for anyone to be concened.